Meet Lee, the man behind White Horse Cleaning Services
At the age just 24, Lee Harris-Hamer suffered a devastating back injury which cut short his career in the Royal Artillery. With a little help from the Army Benevolent Fund, The Soldiers’ Charity as its often known, he now has a successful cleaning business based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. His is a story of triumph over adversity.
Sweeping Civvy Street Clean
Lee’s never been afraid to get his hands dirty. “At the end of the day, we clean toilets, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he says. “My business is to turn rubbish into something amazing. Go with the flow, ride the highs and lows. If your business is run well, anyone can do this. Just be true to yourself.”
Lee joined the Royal Artillery in 2009. He carried out two tours of Afghanistan, leaving with the rank of Lance Bombardier. After eight years of service, Lee was medically discharged in 2016.
Shortly after, Lee launched White Horse Cleaning Services, the business delivered 2,000 cleaning hours and by the end of our first year, the team – which quickly grew to 25 – were finalists at the Hambleton Business Awards, followed by making the finals of the Federation of Small Businesses Award for Triumph Over Adversity.
That said, Lee believes his biggest achievement is building his businesses whilst battling mental health challenges and transitioning from the Forces. Affectionately dubbed the ‘Sergeant Major’ of White Horse, Lee draws on his life in service as his business grows.
As a business owner, Lee knows what’s at stake
“I get told no every day. So, my advice is don’t dwell on it, be resilient. I wake up thinking about the families my business will feed, and it can overwhelm me. But, the highs are always better than the lows.”
In the next two years he wants to double his team and expand by 25 percent, with an estimated turnover of £750,000. His commitment to the Armed Forces continues to drive his business.
“We will launch a new business selling and supporting cleaning franchises through the military spouse network, allowing them to own their own business, which works around the challenges of supporting a loved one who is still serving.”
His wife Brogan, Operations Director at White Horse, has worked for over ten years within the cleaning industry. Her wide knowledge and expertise in commercial cleaning across the executive sector to large industrial cleaning services is second to none. She’s responsible for all contracts and manages a wide range of corporate clients for the business. Brogan’s expertise and hands-on approach empower the company to manage large commercial contracts effectively and seamlessly.
White Horse Cleaning Cleaning Services’ aim is to grow and become the number one specialist cleaning contractor for commercial cleaning in the Yorkshire region and beyond; clients include retailers, offices, schools, hospitals, warehouses and industrial factories. It’s ultimate goal is to make the company the aspirational brand in our marketplaces by developing unique customer experience. “Each client is unique and has different challenges,” explains Lee.
And of course, it’s also about giving something back.
“We would also like to commit to the Armed Forces and support the ABF the soldiers’ charity. There’s going to be the launch of a new business selling and supporting cleaning franchises through the military spouse network, allowing own business ownership, which works around the challenges of supporting a loved one who is still serving,” adds Brogan.
It’s also about eco-friendliness. White Horse’s vision is to use only bioproducts and become 100 percent ‘green’ with minimum impact on the environment, with total recyclable and biodegradable packaging.
About White Horse Cleaning Services
We offer daily, weekly or monthly cleans, all tailored to meet specific client requirements.
Our commercial cleaning services include contract cleaning, commercial office cleaning, washroom services, communal area cleaning, janitorial supplies, window cleaning and carpet cleaning. All of our quality local cleaners are recruited, trained and matched to our cleaning contracts, each of which is managed by one of our regional supervisors.
